What is Global Citizenship and Global Competences?

Global competences aren't just about learning facts about the world. It’s about building the curiosity and insight needed to navigate it.

At its heart, globally competent learners develop four core capacities:

Investigate the World: They look beyond their immediate surroundings, ask meaningful questions, and conduct research that is both age-appropriate and relevant to real-world issues.

Recognize Perspectives: They thoughtfully explore different worldviews—including their own—and learn to articulate diverse viewpoints with respect and empathy.

Communicate Across Differences: They share ideas effectively across cultural, linguistic, geographic, and ideological boundaries, building genuine connections with diverse audiences.

Take Meaningful Action: They see themselves as active participants in the world, taking reflective steps to make a positive impact in their local and global communities. (CCSSO) & Asia Society. (2011)

At its core, global citizenship is an umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions taken by individuals and communities who recognize that everyone is part of an interconnected global network.

It is not a legal status, so you cannot get a "global passport." Instead, it is a mindset and a way of living that recognizes our choices have ripples that extend far beyond our local borders. Oxfam. (2015)